Kolkata, September 7 (Udaipur Kiran): For the first time since the 2016 SSC recruitment scam, West Bengal is set to conduct what officials describe as a “clean and transparent” examination on Sunday. The state government and the School Service Commission (SSC) have put in place extensive measures to ensure fairness. A total of 3,19,919 candidates are expected to appear.

On Saturday evening, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant held a high-level review meeting with all district magistrates and police officials. Clear instructions were issued to ensure smooth conduct of the exam, with strict compliance of guidelines. Senior officials from the Commission and the School Education Department were also present.

Key Administrative Arrangements

• District-level control: Each district will have an Additional District Magistrate in charge of exam operations.

• At exam centres: Deputy Magistrates will be deployed.

• Transport arrangements: The Transport Department has been directed to increase bus services, while the Railways have been asked to ensure adequate local train services.

• Control rooms: SSC’s central control room began operations at 8 am Sunday, with regional offices also monitoring. The School Education Department will run its control room from 10 am.

Education Minister Bratya Basu, in a social media message, extended best wishes to candidates and assured that 636 centres would maintain full transparency and security.

Exam Day Guidelines

SSC Chairman Siddhartha Majumdar announced that the exam will begin at 12 noon.

• Entry for candidates: from 10 am to 11:45 am.

• Question papers will be distributed at 11:45 am, and answer writing will start at 12 noon.

• Security checks with metal detectors at all centres.

• Prohibited items: mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators, non-transparent water bottles, and personal pens.

• Specially-abled candidates will get 30 extra minutes.

Majumdar confirmed that question papers will carry unique security features, admit cards will be scanned, and no one will be allowed to leave until the exam ends. To prevent malpractice, candidates will be allowed to take home a carbon copy of their OMR sheet. The final panel and waiting list will remain valid for one year, extendable by six months.

Transparency Measures

• Any answer sheet with objectionable comments, symbols, or drawings will be cancelled.

• The answer key will be uploaded on the official website a few days later, enabling candidates to cross-check with their carbon copies.

Upcoming Exams

Next Sunday, September 14, recruitment exams for Classes 11–12 teachers will be conducted, with 2,46,500 candidates across 478 centres. Officials said a large number of candidates who appeared in 2016 have reapplied this year. The overall number of candidates is 2.5 lakh higher than the last exam cycle.